Traditional Plain Dress Women's Caps

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Traditional Stiff Caps

Stiff caps are associated with the Anabaptist tradition (Amish/Mennonite/Amish Mennonite and Old German Baptist Brethren). Some caps are made of a stiff net, sometimes plastic, but some groups wear stiff caps made of solid, non-see-through white or black fabric that has been starched into shape. Notice how the "Midwest" Amish coverings have pleating reminiscent of the "Nebraska" Amish soft cap above. The "Nebraska" Amish caps, the "Midwest" Amish caps, and the smoked Swartzentruber cap have decorative bows at the nape of the cap--holdovers from when they were soft caps, gathered at the nape by a ribbon. It's typical for these caps to be held on by straight pins anchored into clips on top. I own a used cap that had double-sided cellophane tape on the underside of the brim to help keep the cap in place.

E-bay is the second place I acquired caps when I first went plain. Try searching for "Amish kapp" and "Amish cap" and "Amish bonnets." People will use "bonnet" and "cap" interchangeably--and different things will come up under the different searches. Many are used, but sometimes someone is selling new caps.

Friends Patterns offers the Traditional Head Covering pattern, which is the classic full-coverage stiff, pleated cap. These patterns are printed on blueprint paper, so be prepared to copy over the pattern onto a more workable pattern material.

Traditional Soft Caps

Soft caps have been worn by many groups, including the Quakers, Amish and Old Order River Brethren. It is important to note some differences. The Old Order River Brethren place much emphasis on a bright white cap, often starching it into shape. Among the Quakers, there is no set pattern, but I show a few of the styles that are worn. I like to wear my bun very high as it keeps my cap securely in place without straight pins or hairspray or double-sided cellophane tape, but that is not typical. (For some of the images below, thee can click on the image to get a larger image.)

Examples

"Nebraska" Amish (not geographical location), Pleated. This cap is made of a double-layer of organdy and then starched stiff. This toddler-size cap is the same as the one worn by adult women.

Amish, "Nebraska," pleated.

Amish, Swartzentruber, Smoked, unmarried, in black. (Married would be white.)

Patterns

Friends Patterns offers several soft cap patterns, including: #510 Heart Shaped Head Covering and #505 "Nebraska" Head Covering. This "Nebraska" covering is not a pattern for the "Nebraska" cap shown in the photo above. It is more like the "Caroline" cap I wear. These patterns are printed on blueprint paper, so be prepared to copy over the pattern onto a more workable pattern material.

Tradition-inspired Caps and Veilings

With a growing number of women outside of traditional covering communities feeling the call to wear a headcovering, seamstresses have stepped forward with tradition-inspired caps. The long, flowing veiling is becoming more and more popular among plain women and is now an acceptable public alternative with some Plain groups.

Epistle 2361664

"Caterpillers and Locusts"

ALL my Dear Friends, in the Everlasting Power, Life and Truth live, for you cannot live without it, in the Winds and Storms: and though the Hill and Mountains are burnt, and the Trees are become fruitless, and that Winter hath devoured the former Fruits, and you do see that Persecution hath choaked them, and the Heart hath scorched them; whereby the untimely Figs are fallen, and the Corn is withered on the House-top, and the Night is come, and the Evil Beasts go out of their Den: But Truth lives, and ...